Tuning into the secret of being purrfectly happy

On The Bright Side

by Kay Hafner

When my cat purrs, it�s a sign she�s happy and content. She�s obviously never told me this, but you don�t have to be Dr. Doolittle to come to this conclusion. It�s something all cat owners take for granted. While wildlife biologists dislike animals being given human characteristics, I doubt many would object to the idea that purring is a cat�s way of saying, "Life is good."

I sometimes wish humans could purr. We may laugh and smile when we�re happy, but laughter can be canned and smiles simulated. You can feel miserable on the inside yet act cheerful enough to be labeled "happy."

Cats can�t fake purring. Either they�re in the mood, or they aren�t.

If you�re a fan of the original Star Trek series, you know that tribbles also make a purring sound. Their cooing purr easily entranced and comforted even the most humorless human. As far as I can recall, tribbles always purr. That�s part of their allure.

Cats, on the other hand, do not purr when we want. This rarity and unpredictability is what makes purring a cat�s special gift.

Purrs, like all sound and speech, are the result of vibrations. Not all vibrations produce sounds that our human ears can hear. Dog whistles are one example, but they are rare. More common are the AM and FM waves that travel silently around and through us every day on their way to my clock radio, your portable Walkman and thousands of home stereos.

Some people believe that everything in the universe vibrates at its own frequency, its own unique and imperceptible hum. They say crystals, jewels and even metals have healing, energizing or soothing properties based on their vibrations.

I confess it�s a bit hard for me to buy into this theory of good "vibes" from inanimate objects. After all, solid things like pens, pencils and paperweights sit silently and stationary on my desk. They only move when I pick them up and they only make a sound when I drop them.

Thinking on a deeper level, an atomic level, is one way to approach this concept. Visualize an atom surrounded by the frenetic movement of electrons, protons and neutrons. Now, multiply that by thousands, millions or billions of molecules and you can almost imagine how the sum total of them all might add up to minute movements within the whole object. Not a 5.2 on the Richter scale, maybe, but some sort of microscopic jiggle at least.

That�s as far open as the door to my mind gets on this subject. I can�t honestly attribute "good" or "bad" vibes to lifeless objects like crystals or jewels or other stones.

Not that I haven�t tried.

Earlier this year I was with a friend at Passages, a gift shop and bookstore in Glens Falls, where we saw a vanilla-scented pillar candle that was flecked with topaz. I liked the warm yellow color and found the soft scent very soothing. The fact that topaz, my birthstone, is said to enhance creativity added to the sale, but I didn�t expect this $15 investment to magically transform me into the next Anna Quindlen. Still, it wouldn�t hurt to try.

I�m now on my second "Healing Wax" candle. I like them mostly because of their smell--just right, not too overpowering. While I sometimes light it while I write, it�s impossible to judge whether the vibrations of countless topaz flecks, burning or otherwise, have impacted the quality of my writing.

You may be wondering what microscopic vibrations and gemstone candles have to do with cats and purring.

I�ve been thinking that maybe humans do purr. Maybe that�s what happens when people say we give off good vibes. When we�re satisfied and secure, we resonate at the "frequency" of happy. We can�t fake it, we can�t induce it. We don�t have to announce to the world, "Life is good." People will just know.

Kay Hafner, a writer from Queensbury, says she feels happiest when with her family or just reading in quiet solitude. She also enjoys surfing the Web and checking her e-mail so you might want to drop her a line at [email protected].

copyright � Kay Hafner 1999